Release mechanism for missile projectors



an. 3, 1961 H. ALLEN ETAL 2,966,850

RELEASE MECHANISM FOR MISSILE PROJECTORS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l i I I J. 20 11 20 INVENTOR HERBERT ALLEN SOLOMON BURG BY I ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1961 H. ALLEN EI'AL 2,966,350

RELEASE MECHANISM FOR MISSILE PROJECTORS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HERBERT ALLEN SOLOMON BURG ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1961 H. ALLEN ET AL 2,966,850

RELEASE MECHANISM FOR MISSILE PROJECTORS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ian 3 mvzmmn HERBERT ALLEN a SOLOMON BURG ATTORNEY United States Patent RELEASE MECHANISM FOR MISSILE PROJECTORS Herbert Allen, Houston, Tex., and Solomon Burg, Washington, D.C., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Sept. 8, 1949, Ser. No. 114,542

4 Claims. (Cl. 102-7) This invention relates to missile projectors and more particularly to lashings for securing missiles such as depth charges in a projector cradle.

When a naval vessel is engaged or preparing for engagement in antisubmarine action it is important that the depth charge projectors be loaded without delay and retained in condition for immediate use. In order to reduce the loading time to a minimum the lashing which secures the missile in the cradle should be so designed that it can be placed in missile securing position with the least possible adjustment and manipulation. In addition, the lashing must be strong enough to secure the charge or missile against accidental dislodgement from the cradle and, further, it must also be capable of immediate release from its moorings when the projector is fired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lashing for missile projectors which may be quickly and easily installed in missile holding position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the aforementioned character by means of which a missile may be safely carried in a projector cradle.

A further object is to provide a missile lashing which is freed from its mooring upon firing of the projector.

A still further object is the provision of a single lashing for simultaneously securing a missile to the cradle and securing the arbor against axial movement in the projector tube.

These and other objects and attendant advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is an end elevation partly in section of one embodiment of the present invention showing a portion of the projector with the lashing in missile securing position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a change position view similar to Fig. 1 showing the position of the lashing immediately after the projector is fired; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tension adjusting coupling in missile securing position.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 there is shown a depth charge A lashed to the projector missile cradle 11 in ready to fire condition. As illustrated, the missile cradle may be welded to the upper end of a tubular arbor 12 which telescopes into a projector tube 13. A stop collar 14 may be aflixed to the arbor to shoulder against the end of the projector tube. Lashing anchoring eyes 15 may be welded to opposite sides of the projector tube either one of which may serve as an anchor for one end of the missile lashing member.

Formed in the upper end of tube 13 are oppositely disposed notches 16 adapted to receive keys 17 which comprise short lengths of strap iron bent inwardly at their lower ends and having their upper ends welded to the underside of cradle 11 as shown. These depending keys serve to align the cradle with respect to eyes 15 so that the depth charge A may readily be secured by the lashing and to prevent any rotation of the arbor and cradle.

A bracket 18 slotted as shown in Fig. 4 may be formed of sheet metal andprovided with an outwardly extending lip 18a. This bracket may be welded to the undersurface of the cradle 11 so that the slot receives one end of the lashing member.

The lashing which encircles the missile to retain it on the cradle 11 may comprise a suitable chain 20 or if desired a length of cable may be employed. In either event an elongated release link 21 is secured to one end of the lashing with the opposite end engaging one of the eyes 15. The release link 21 is normally shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the bottom end of each leg turned up to provide a hook 22. It will be apparent that one of the eyes 15 may be forced between the hooked portions to spread them when the link is attached. The natural resilience of the link normally retains the hooked ends 22 together as shown. However, it will be noted from Fig. 1 that an advantage in using chain links is that elongated link 21 may be threaded through any appropriate link adjacent the end of the chain thereby permitting the lashing to be used with different sized missiles.

To secure a missile in cradle 11, ends 22 are spread and slipped over an eye 15. The lashing member is then placed around the missile resting in cradle 11 and threaded rod 19 is placed in the notch of bracket 18. Nut 23 aflixed to a hollow tubular extension is then rotated by a handle 24 and sufficient tension is applied to hold the missile firmly in place.

By anchoring one end to the projector tube 13 and the other end to the cradle 11, as shown in Fig. l, the lashing not only firmly secures the missile in the cradle but it also serves to prevent the arbor 12 from moving axially in the projector tube 13. Thus, irrespective of any sudden pitching or rolling of the vessel on which the projector is mounted the arbor cannot slide upwardly in the tube. If such movement were to occur at the instant of firing the explosive force of the projector charge exerted upon the arbor would doubtless be lessened and thus interfere with the accuracy of the device.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that when the projector is fired and the arbor starts its initial outward movement, link 21 is stretched until the looped end portions 22 partially straighten to the shape shown at which time they release from engagement with eye 15 as shown. Thus as the arbor is expelled from the projector tube the lashing is severed and the missile is thrown out free of the arbor. By providing a missile freed from its arbor the rate of descent of the missile in the water can be more accurately calculated thus insuring greater accuracy.

It shouldbe understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications or alternations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A single lashing for jointly securing a missile to a projector cradle and the projector cradle to a projector comprising a flexible portion adapted to partially encircle the girth of a missile resting upon the projector cradle, a tension adjusting member attached to one end of the flexible portion, a releasable member attached to the other end of said flexible portion, one of said members engageable with the projector cradle, and the other member engageable with the projector tube, said release member being releasable upon the firing of the projector to free the missile for flight separate from the cradle.

2. In a missile projector having a projector tube, an arbor in telescopic engagement with said tube and a missile cradle movable with said arbor, the combination of amissile encircling lashing, a bracket on the cradle having a slot therein, an eye on said tube, an adjustable tension applying coupling on one end of the lashing and engageable with said bracket on the cradle, and aquick connectable metal release link on the other-end of said slashing and engageable with the eye on said projector a release link connecting one end of the lashing to the eye, said link including a closed end and shank portions extending therefrom, looped portions on said shanks which close the other end of said link, and a tension adjusting member on the other end of said lashing engagea- -ble with said bracket.

4. In a depth charge projector having a projector tube, an arbor in telescopic engagement with said tube'and having end affixed thereto a depth charge cradle, a single charge lashing for jointly securing a depth charge to the cradle and the arbor telescoped within the tube comprising a flexible member to partially encircle the girth of a charge, a tension adjustingmember attached to one end of the flexible portion and anchored to the cradle, a deformable metal link attached to the other end of the flexible member and engaging the projector tube whereby upon firing the projector the link disengages the projec- Patrick Apr. 16, 1946 Patrick Apr. 30,1946 

